Article

The present study reports on a robotic stroke therapy delivery and
monitoring system intervention. The aims of this pilot implementation project
were to determine participants' general impressions about the benefits and
barriers of using robotic therapy devices for in-home rehabilitation. METHODS: We
used a qualitative study design employing ethnographic-based anthropological
methods including direct observation of the in-home environment and in-depth
semi-structured interviews with 10 users of the hand or foot robotic devices.
Thematic analysis was conducted using an inductive approach. RESULTS:
Participants reported positive experiences with the robotic stroke therapy
delivery and monitoring system. Benefits included convenience, self-reported
increased mobility, improved mood and an outlet for physical and mental tension
and anxiety. Barriers to use were few and included difficulties with placing the
device on the body, bulkiness of the monitor and modem connection problems.
CONCLUSIONS: Telerehabilitation robotic devices can be used as a tool to extend
effective, evidence-based and specialized rehabilitation services for upper and
lower limb rehabilitation to rural Veterans with poor access to care.
Implications for Rehabilitation Participants whose formal therapy services had
ended either because they had exhausted their benefits or because traveling to
outpatient therapy was too cumbersome due to distance were able to perform
therapeutic activities in the home daily (or at least multiple times per week).
Participants who were still receiving formal therapy services either in-home or
in the clinic were able to perform therapeutic activities in the home on the days
they were not attending/receiving formal therapy. Based on the feedback from
these veterans and their caregivers, the manufacturing company is working on
modifying the devices to be less cumbersome and more user-friendly
(lighter-weight, more mobile, changing software, etc.), as well as more adaptable
to participants' homes. Removing these specific barriers will potentially allow
participants to utilize the device more easily and more frequently. Since
participants expressed that they wished they could have the device in their homes
longer than the 3-month usage period required for this pilot project, the project
team is working on a proposal to extend this project to a wider area and the new
paradigm would extend the usage period until the patient reaches a plateau in
progress or no longer wants to use the device.

Langue : ANGLAIS